Film splicer



Aug, 24, 1943., J. BOLSEY FILM SPLICER Filed April 25,. 1940 latented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED FILM SPLICER Jacques Bolsey, New York, N. Y. V

Application All? 25, 1940, Serial No. 331,493

10 Claims.

The invention relates to film splicers of the type comprising two tables and two covers forming two juxtaposed units, one of which can be swung and shifted with respect to the other in order to cut and to splice the two ends of the film to be treated.

The object of the invention is to improve splicers of this kind and to make them adaptable for films of different sizes.

One feature of the invention is to provide lateral spring or springs tending to keep one of the splicing tables and its cover elastically pressed against the other table during the cutting and splicing operations.

Another feature is to hinge the two tables and their covers on a common shaft along which one of them can slide laterally.

Still another feature is an improved-scraper which is pivoted on a carriage that can be shifted under one of the tables so as to adjust the stroke of this scraper to films of different sizes.

Further features are that the usual fastening pins entering into some of the perforations of the film instead of being carried by the tables themselves, are mounted under the tables on spring levers that can be pressed down in order to disengage instantaneously the spliced film from these pins after eachsplicing operation;

that means are provided to prevent the spreading of the splicing glue on the film beyond the scraped patch thereof and that the two tables can be completely raised for cleaning purpose and for the setting of the travel of the scraper.

In the annexed drawing, which shows an embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a plan view of the splicer in its closed position;

Figure 2 is a. similar plan view showing the splicer completely open for cleaning purpose;

Figure 3 is a similar plan view showing the splicer with its two covers open;

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a front view and a side view corresponding to Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical section along hne C-C of Fig. 1; showing the splicer in its active position just after the cutting operation; and

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views.

Ii-n this embodiment the splicing apparatus comprises a fiat base I on the rear part of which is fixed a vU-shaped bracket 2. carrying a pivot shaft 3, while on its front part are fixed two vertical posts 4 and 5.

A table 8 and its cover 1 are independently pivoted on the left hand side of the shaft 3 and are prevented from axial displacement on this shaft by means of a ring or sleeve 8, fastened on this shaft by means of a screw 8; while a second table 10 and its cover I I are independently pivoted and jointly slidable on the right hand sideof the shaft 3,

The covers I, II are provided with holes l2 in which project the usual lateral guiding pins I3 carried by the tables 6, III when the splicer is closed as shown in Figures 1 and 6. According to one feature of the invention, the usual registering pins l4, entering into some of the perforations of the film, are carried on two levers l5 and project through corresponding holes I6 provided in both the tables 6, l0 and the covers I, I I, instead of being secured directly on the tables 6, Ill. The levers l5 are pivotally mounted on the shaft 3 directly under the tables 8, l0 and are submitted to the action of springs l'l tendin to raise them normally against the tables. The free ends of these levers project beyond th front edges of the table 6, l0 so as to forma pair of press-down keys I8 which can be manually pressed down after each splicing operation to disengage the film treated from the pins l4.

According to the invention, the pins l3 and I4 are in juxtaposed sets arranged in such a way that the splicer can be used for films of diiferent sizes (three in this embodiment as shown in Figure 3 in dotted lines).

The usual scraper l9 (Figures 2 and 7) is fixed by means of screws 20 in the free end of a, T- shaped holder 2!, the other end of which is pivoted in 22 to acarriage 23. This latter is fa tened on a rod 24, slidably mounted in the post 4 and in a rear bracket 25, two coil springs 26, freely mounted on the rod 24, being interposed as bufifers between this carriage and the post 4 and the bracket 25respectively.

According to the invention the cutting or shearing of the film ends is greatly improved by exerting a lateral pressure on the table Ill and its cover I l in order to maintain them elastically and tightly pressed against the table 6, and the cover I during the shearing and the splicing operations. This lateral pressure is obtained by means of two fiat springs 21, 28, fixed on th base I and having their free springy ends slightly rounded to cooperate more easily with corresponding downward projections or ears 29, 30, of the cover II and the table l0 respectively when these two latter are lowered and reach the position shown in Figures 1 and 6. i As shown in Figure 2, both tables 6 and Ill and levers l5 can be completely raised when it is desired to clean the parts fixed on the bas I and this latter.

The table 9 carries underneath a snapping button 3I (Fig. 4) which snaps into a groove 32, provided in the top of the post 4 when this table is lowered, thus immobilizing this tabl during the splicing operation.

To prevent the spreading of the glue beyon the portion 39 of the film to be spliced and to delimitate this portion, a pair of corresponding grooves 34, 35, are provided in the table 3 and the cover 1 respectively; These grooves will accumulate the glue spreading inwardly when the splicer covers 1, I I are pressed against the superimposed film strips 33, 33 lying during splicing on the splicer tables 6, III. The glue applied between the superimposed film portions will be pressed between the tables and covers, accumulate in the grooves 34 and 35 and be thereby prevented from spreading further inwardly between the film strips and covers on the one hand and the tables on the other hand.

Under the left-hand table 8 are secured four pins 33 (Figure 2) which cooperate with a stop 31 fixed on the carriage 23 to limit the active travel of the scraper I9 to the actual width of the film treated. To that effect, the three distances between these four pins correspond to the three different sizes of film that can be spliced.

The operation of this improved splicer is as follows:

The two covers I, II being raised as shown in Figure 3, the two ends 33, 38 of the film to be spliced are first laid down on the tables 9, I between the guiding pins I3 of the set of pins corresponding to the width of this. film so that the pins I 3 of this set enter into some of the perforations of the film. The two covers 1, II are then lowered, as shown in Figure 4 and the pivoting and slidable unitformed by the table I9, the cover I I, the right-hand lever I5 and the film end 38 squeezed between the cover I I and the table III is then raised and shifted to the left to bring the cars 29, 30 over and on the other side of the flat springs 21, 28. This unit i then lowered and pressed down on the post 5 so as to cut simultaneously the portions of the ends 33, 33 of the film projecting beyond the inner edges of the table 6 and the cover II respectively, as these two edges cooperate then with the adiacent edges of the cover 1 and the table I0 respectively to shear these P rtions of the film ends (Figure 6). During this shearing operation, the springs 21, 28 maintain the table I0 and the cover II tightly pressed against the fixed table 6 and cover 1, thus ensuring a perfectly clean cut of the film.

After this shearing, the unit III. II, I5, 38 is again raised to uncover the portion 39 of the film end 33 (Fig. 3) to be cleared of its gelatin and the scraper I9 is then brought from its inoperative position shown in Figure 2 by tilting about hinge 22 in working position above this portion 39, as shown in Figure '7 and moved to and fro across this portion, the stop 31 cooperating then with the two pins 36 corresponding to the size of the film treated to limit thi moves ment to the width of this film.

When all the gelatine or sensitized coating is thus scraped from this portion 39, the scraper I9 is turned down on the base I, a coat'of glue is spread on the portion 39 and the unit III, I I, I5, 39 is pressed down again on the post 5 to press the film end 39 on the portion 39 and thus effect the splicing operation, the springs 21, 28 acting also during this operation to prevent all relaaamgsss tive displacement of the p rsons of the'film to be glued together.

The two covers 1, I I are then raised and the two keys I3 pressed down to disengage the film from the pins I3.

Figure 8 shows a device to apply the glue on the scraped portion 33 of the film. This device comprises a glue stamp 33, carried by arms ll, 42 pivoted in 43. This figure shows in dotted lines how the stamp 49 can be brought rearwards on a glue container 44. Instead of using glue, the stamp 49 could be replaced by a resistance heated so as to melt and splice together the edges of the film.

I claim:

1. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superimposed cover plate, means hingeably supporting said plate units in such a manner that they are adapted to be shifted to and from each other and to be swung with respect to'each other, the cover and table plates of the respective units having cooperating contiguous overlapping shearing edges, thereby enabling cutting of the film ends with th inner contacting edges of said plates and I splicing of the film ends by means of the same film plates, and spring-lik acting means arranged in such a manner as to hold the plates of one plate unit pressed against the corresponding plates of the other plate unit only when in operative cutting and splicing position, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each I other when in inoperative position.

2. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table Plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superposed cover plate, a shaft secured to said base parallel thereto, said plate units being hingeably attached to said shaft in such a manner that both plate units are adapted to be swung about said shaft and at least one of them is adapted to be shifted on said shaft in longitudinal direction, the cover and table plates of the respective units havin cooperating contiguous overlapping shearingedges, thereby enabling shearing of the two ends of the film with the inner contacting edges of the plates and thereafter splicing of the film ends by means of the same plates, and spring-like acting means arranged in such a manner as to hold the plates of the shiftable plate unit pressed against the corresponding plates of the other plate unit only when in operative cutting and splicing position, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when in inoperative position.

3. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superposed cover plate, a shaft secured to said base parallel thereto, said plate units being hingeably secured along the rear edges of the plates to said shaft in such a manner that both plate units are adapted to be swung about said shaft and at 7s enabling shearing of the two ends of the film with the inner contacting edges of the plates and thereafter splicing of the film endaby means of the same plates, means adapted to support said Y plate units juxtaposed to each other in one plane permitting free shitting of the plate units to and from each otherwhen at least one of them is .swung into inoperative position, not supported by said supporting means.

4. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, apair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superposed cover plate, a shaft secured to said base parallel thereto, saidplate units being hlngeably securedalong the rear edges of the plates to said shaft in such a manner that both plate units are adapted to be swung about said shaft and at least one of them is adapted to be shifted on said shaft in longitudinal direction, the cover and table plates of the respective units having cooperating contiguous overlapping shearing edges, thereby enabling shearing of the two ends of the film with the inner contacting edges of the plates and thereafter splicing of the film ends by means of the same plates, frontal supports adapted to hold said plate units juxtaposed to each other in one plane when'in operative splicing position, and compressing springs arranged in such a manner as to hold the plates of one plate unit pressed against the corresponding plates of the other plate unit only when in cutting and splicing position supported by said frontal supports, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when at least one of them is swung into inoperative position, *not supported by said supporting means.

5. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superposed cover plate, a shaft secured to said base parallel thereto, said plate units being hingeably secured along the rear edges of the plates to said shaft in such a manner that both plate units are adapted to be swung about said shaft and at least one of them is adapted to be shifted on said shaft in longitudinal direction, the cover and table plates of the respective units having coopcrating contiguous overlapping shearing edges, thereby enabling shearing of the two ends of the film with the inner contacting edges of the plates and thereafter splicing of the film ends by means of the same plates, frontal supports provided with spring button-like means adapted to support and to hold said plate units juxtaposed to each other in one plane when in operative splicing position, and compressing springs arranged in such a manner as to hold the plates of one plate unit pressed against the corresponding plates of the other plate unit only when in cutting and splicing position supported by said frontal supports, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when at least one of them is swung into inoperative position, not supported by said supporting means.

6. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover 75 assasso plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superimposed cover plate, means hingeably supporting 5 said plate units in such a manner that they are adapted to be shifted to and from each other and to be swung with respect to each other, the cover and table plates of the respective units having cooperating contiguous overlapping shearing 1o edges, thereby enabling cutting of the film ends with the inner contacting edges of said plates and splicing of the film ends by means of the same plates, and plate springs secured to said base and arranged in such a manner as to act against the outer edges of the plates of at least one plate unit and to hold the plates of this plate unit pressed against the corresponding plates of the other plate unitonly when in operative cutting v and splicing position, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when in inoperative position.

7. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film,a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said 5 table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superposed cover plate, a shaft secured to said base parallel thereto, said plate units being hingeably secured along the rear edges of the plates to said shaft in .30 such a manner that both plate units are adapted to be swung about said shaft and at least one of them is adapted to be shifted on said shaft in longitudinal direction, the cover and table plates of the respective units having cooperating contiguous overlapping shearing edges, thereby enabling shearing of the two ends 'of the film with the inner contacting edges of the plates and thereafter splicing of the film ends by means of the same plates, means adapted to support said 40 plate units juxtaposed to each other in one plane when in operative splicing position, and plate spring-like means secured to said base and arranged in such a manner as to act against the outer edges of the plates of at least one plate unit and to hold the plates of one plate unit pressed against the corresponding plates of the other plate unit only when in cutting and splicing position supported by said supporting means, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when at least one of them is swung into inoperative position, not supported by said supporting means.

8. In a fihn splicing apparatus a base, a. pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superimposed cover plate, means hingeably supporting said plate units in such a manner that they are adapted to be shifted to and from each other and to be swung with'respect to each other, the cover and table plates of the respective units having cooperating contiguous overlapping shearing edges, thereby enabling cutting of the film ends with the inner contacting edges of said plates and splicing of the film ends by means of the same plates, and two separate spring-like acting means arranged in such a manner as to press each of the plates of one plate unit separately against the corresponding plate of the other plate unit when in operative cutting and splicing position, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when in inoperative position.

9. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superposed cover plate, a shaft secured to said base parallel thereto. said plate units being hingeably secured along the rear edges of the plates to said shaft in such a manner that both plate units are adapted to be swung about said shaft and at least; one of them is adapted to be shifted on said shaft in longitudinal direction, the cover and table plates of the respective units having cooperating contiguous overlapping shearing edges,'thereby enabling shearing of the two ends of the film with the. inner contacting edges of the plates and thereafter splicing oi the film ends by means of the same plates, means adapted to support said plate units juxtaposed to each other in one plane when in operative splicing position, and two spring-like acting means arranged in such a manner as to press each of the plates of one plate unit separately against the corresponding plates of the other plate unit only when in splicing position supported by said supporting means, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when at least one of them is swung into inoperative position, not supported by said supporting means.

10. In a film splicing apparatus a base, a pair of table plates for receiving a film, a pair of cover plates holding said film on said table plates, said table and cover plates forming juxtaposed units consisting each of a table plate and a superposed cover plate, a shaft secured to said base parallel thereto, said plate units being hingeably secured along the rear edges of the plates to said shaft in such a manner that both plate units are adapted to be swung about said shaft and at least one of them is adapted to be shifted on said shaft in longitudinal direction, the cover and table plates. of the respective units having cooperating contiguous overlapping shearing edges, thereby enabling shearing of the two ends 01' the film with the inner contacting edges of the plates and thereafter splicing of the film ends by means of the same plates, means adapted to support said plate units juxtaposed to each other in one plane when in operative splicing position, and two plate spring-like means secured to said base and arranged in such a manner as to act against the outer edges of the plates of one plate unit and to press each of the plates of one plate unit separately against the corresponding plates of the other plate unit only when in splicing position supported by said supporting means, but permitting free shifting of the plate units to and from each other when at least one of them is swung into inoperative position, not supported by said supporting means.

JACQUES BOLSEY. 

